What is the Trinity?

One of the foundational beliefs of St. Matthew’s is that of the Trinity in which God is described in three persons. Commonly, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are used to describe God in this way, but we also use less gendered terms such as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

Who is God?

We believe in one God, who created the world and all that is in it. We believe that that God is sovereign and rules the universe. We believe God is loving, and we can experience God’s love and grace.

Who is Jesus

We believe Jesus was human; He lived as a man and died. We believe also that Jesus is divine; He is the Son of God. We believe God raised Jesus from the dead, and we believe the risen Christ (Messiah) lives today. We believe Jesus is our Savior; in Christ, we receive abundant life and forgiveness of sins. We believe Jesus is our Lord and we are called to pattern our lives after His.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

We believe the Holy Spirit is God with us. We believe the Holy Spirit comforts us when we are in need and convicts us when we stray. We believe the Holy Spirit awakens us to God’s will and empowers us to live obediently.

Who are Human Beings in All This?

We believe God created human beings in God’s own image. We believe humans can choose to either accept or reject their relationship with God. We believe all humans need to be in relationship with God in order to be fully human.

What is the Church?

We believe the church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. We believe the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We believe the church is the “communion of saints,” a community made up of all past, present, and future disciples of Christ. We believe the church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith.

What is the Bible?

We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. The Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice. As Christians, we need to know and study the Old Testament and the New Testament (the Hebrew Scriptures as well as the Christian Scriptures).

When is the Reign of God?

We believe that the kingdom (or reign) of God consists of both a present reality and future hope. Wherever God's will is done, the kingdom of God is present. It was present in Jesus' ministry, and it is also present in our world whenever persons and communities experience reconciliation, restoration, and healing.

Although, the fulfillment of God's kingdom – the complete restoration of creation – is still to come, we believe that the church is called to be both a witness to the vision of what God's kingdom will be like and a participant in helping to bring it to completion.

The reign of God is both personal and social. Personally, we display the kingdom of God as our hearts and minds are transformed to become more Christ-like. Socially, God's vision for the kingdom includes the restoration and transformation of all of creation.

Baptism

Through baptism, we are joined with the church and with Christians everywhere. It is a symbol of new life and a sign of God's love and forgiveness of our sins.

Persons of any age can be baptized. We baptize by sprinkling, immersion, or pouring. A person receives the sacrament of baptism only once in his or her life.

The Lord's Supper (Communion, Eucharist)

The Lord's Supper is a holy meal of bread and wine that symbolizes the body and blood of Christ. The Lord's Supper recalls the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and celebrates the unity of all the members of God's family. By sharing this meal, we give thanks for Christ's sacrifice and are nourished and empowered to go into the world in mission and ministry.

We practice "Open Communion," welcoming all who love Christ, repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another.